Structure: Comparison

Summary

Macbeth spans over several years and locations, from Scotland to England, and from the battlefield to the castle. The play uses a linear and chronological plot that shows the progression of Macbeth's character and his actions. Death and the Maiden, on the other hand, takes place in one night and in one room, where the characters are trapped by a storm and by their past. The play uses a non-linear and fragmented plot that shifts between the present and the past, and between reality and illusion

Macbeth

Macbeth has a five-act structure, which was common for Elizabethan and Jacobean dramas. The first act introduces the main characters, the conflict and the supernatural elements. The second act shows Macbeth's murder of Duncan and its consequences. The third act depicts Macbeth's consolidation of power and his growing paranoia. The fourth act reveals the witches' further prophecies and Macduff's alliance with Malcolm, Duncan's son and the rightful heir. The fifth act portrays Macbeth's downfall and death, as well as the restoration of order and justice.

Macbeth's structure follows the classical principles of tragedy, as defined by Aristotle. It has a clear plot that moves from the exposition to the rising action, the climax, the falling action and the resolution. It has a tragic hero who has a fatal flaw (hamartia) that causes his downfall. It has a catharsis, or a purgation of pity and fear, that the audience experiences through the hero's suffering and death. It also has a unity of time, place and action, meaning that the events of the play occur within a short span of time, in a limited number of locations, and with a single main plot.

Death and the Maiden

Death and the Maiden has a three-act structure, which is typical for modern and contemporary plays. The first act establishes the characters, the setting and the situation. The second act develops the conflict and the tension between Paulina, Roberto and Gerardo. The third act resolves the dilemma and reveals the outcome.

Death and the Maiden's structure deviates from the classical norms of drama, as it challenges the conventions of realism, causality and closure. It has a non-linear plot that shifts between the present and the past, using flashbacks, music and sound effects. It has an ambiguous hero and villain, as the audience is never sure of Roberto's guilt or innocence, and Paulina's justice or vengeance. It has an open ending, as the play does not provide a clear verdict or a moral lesson. It also has a multiplicity of time, place and action, meaning that the events of the play span over several years, in different locations, and with multiple subplots and themes, while occurring in one afternoon in one room.